Variable-speed gear.



J. ARCHER. VARIABLE SPEED GEAR. APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 190s.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

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J. ARCHER. VARIABLE SPEED GEAR. APPLIOATIOHPILED NOV. 16. 1906.

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JAMES ARCHER OF NOTTINGHMI, ENGLAND.

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Specification of Ecttera Eateut.

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application filed Novemberlfi', 1906; Serial Ito. 3%,.778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James ARCHER, asubject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of Nottingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Gear for Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to and consists of an improved construction and arrangement-ofthree speed gearing for velocipedes characterized by an arrangement oftwo trains of epicyelic gearing, one for producing the high and normal speeds and the other for producing the low speed and with which latter the driver is always in driving from the hub. Fig. 5 illustrates the hub axle and the sun. pinions thereon. Fig. 6 illustrates a part longitudinal section and part exterior view of the gear shell. Fig. 7 'lustrates a detached view (partly in seci it the loose gear ring.

several. parts may be described as fol- -l is the hub, 2 the fixed hub axle, and orocltet or chain wheel, this latter by the part 4, hereinafter u the driver. The hub and driver take their bearings upon the bushes 5, 6 via antiti' tion balls Upon studs 1? carried by r 4; is a set of planetary pinions T.

o a tubular member 8, loosely and rorel; 1 ting the axle 2, and hereinafter called the planet cage, is'afurther set of pinions 9. In one with or connected stays 48, see Fig. 6, to the driver a gear ring 10, i. e. a cylindrical member with spur teeth ld on its inner face, see Fig. 6. Upon the axle '2 are two sun pinions i1, 12, one for the set of planetary pinions 7, and the other for the set of planetary pinions 9. The pinion-11 is a fixture on the axle, but the pinion 12 is loose and tires to be slid longitudinally along the axle by means say oi the rod 13, cross-bar 1i and spring 15.

Upon the bush 5, Which is fixed 'to the axle, is a ring of clutch teeth 5, and upon the inner face of the boss of the ring 10 1s a further ring of clutch teeth 10*", see Fig. 6. Upon being moved along the axle in one direetion the pinion 12 is designed to engage and be clutched to the teeth in the bush 5, and thus be held against rotation, while upon being moved in the opposite direction the said pinion is designed to engage and be clutched to the teeth 10 of the gear ring; and thus be adapted to rotate solid with the gear ring 10 and pinions 7. Upon being moved to a central position the pinion 12 is free of both the teeth 5* and 1O and meshes only with the planetary pinions 7. 10 is a further gear ring with which the pinions 7 mesh see Fig. 7, and upon the exterior of such ring are ratchet teeth or recesses 17. Let into small cavities in the hub are pawls 18, held in position by say a split hoop or ring 1%; common to the series.

In one with the planet cage 8 is a flange 8 and in" the periphery of such flange are ratohet teet-h. U on the inner part of the hub and carried y say the end bush l of the hub is a series ofpawls l or any suitable torm oi" silent ratchet.

The action of the combined mechanism.

though always remaining in driving connection with the gear ring 10 and driver 4, and the pawls 1 overrunning the ratchet teeth in the planet cage flange 8 When the sun pinion 12 is moved to the right and caused to engage the teeth 5 in the bush 5,,and thus also made free of the teeth 10*" in the gear ring 10, the huo'is rotated at the high 1 speed, the drive taking place througa the pinions 7, gear ring 16 and pawls 18, the gear ring 10 and pinions 9 again rotating idly, but always being in driving connection with the driver, and'the pawls 1 again over-r anning the teeth in the flange 1".- When the sun pinioni 12 is moved to the left and caused'to lie clear of *oth the teeth 10 in the gear ring ll) and eth 5* in the bush 5, the hub i rotated at the low speed, the .drive ta ing place through the pinion studs 4P, gear ring 10, pinions 9 and pawls 1 5 v When the pedals of the bicycle are held stationary for the urposes of free-wheeling, the pawls 18 slip over the gear ring 16, and the pawls 1 slip over the teeth in the fiange 8.

By reason of the driver always being in driving connection with the pinions 9 no slipping of the pedals can take-place at the time of moving the pinion 12 for changing the speed. The stays 4* are formed by cutting out the metal of a cylindrical neck connecting the driver and ring. The parts may be connected-by the studs 4? only.

What I claim is 1. In a variable three speed gearing for velocipedes, a wheel hub and a fixed axle -therefor, a driving member, and two independent sets of epicyclic gearing, these latter being arranged within the hub, one set of which serves to drive the hub at a low 'speed and with which the driving member is constantly in gear, and the other set of which serves to drive the hub at a high or normal speed, and means whereby the hub:

may run free when the driving member is held stationary and whereby the hub may overrun the low speed gearing when the high and normal speed gearing is in operaf tion, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a variable three speed gearing for velocipedes, the combination with awheel hub and fixed axle therefor, ofa driving member and two independent sets of epicy clic gearing, one for the low speed and the other for the high and normal speeds, both arranged within the hub, and each set of gearing comprising an internally toothed gear ring, planetary pinions and a sun pinion, the sun pinion of one set being fixed to the axleand the sun pinion of the other set being loose and free to slide and in certain positions rotate, and the gear ring of one set of gearing being integral with the driving member and carrying the pinions of the other set, and means cooperating with said gearing whereby the motion-of the'driving member may be transmitted to the hub through one or other of the sets of gearing and whereby when the set of gearing for driving the hub at the-high and normal speeds is in operation the gearing for the low speed is over-run by the hub, and whereby when the gearing for the low speed is in operation the other gearing is rendered inoperative, and also whereby the hub may run free on any speed when the driving member is held stationary, substantially as hereinset forth.

3. Ina variable three speed gearing for velocipedes, the combination with a .wheel hub,of a driving member, a gear rin CQD- nected with such driving member an ing spur and clutch teeth, a set of planetary pinions and their axes carried by the said driving member, a further and loose' annular gear ring surrounding and meshing with the said pinions and having ratchet teeth in its periphery, a further set of planetary pinions meshing with the spur teeth in the gear ring connected with the driving member, a non-rotary axle for the hub, two

sun pinions on the axle, one always fixed and'of being clutched to the axle or to the said clutch teeth on the gear ring connected with the driving member or of being made free of both, pawls whereby the hub. may run free on any speed when the .driving member is held stationary and whereby the hub may over-run the gearing giving the low speed when the gearing for giving the high and normal speeds is in use, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In a variable three speed gearing: for velocipedes, the combinationwith a wheel hub of a driving member, a gear ring con-' nected with the said driving member and having spur and clutch teeth, a set of planetary pinions and their axes carried by the said driving member, a further and loose annular gear ring surrounding and meshing with the said pinions and having ratchet teeth in its periphery, w'non-rotary axle for the hub, a sun pinion on the axle capable of bein' moved along the axle and of bein clutche to the ear ring connected witl the driving mem er or to the axle or be moved free of both while always being in mesh with the said pinions, and pawls between the hub and the said further annular gear ring, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. a

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two'witnesscs.

JAMES ARCHER Witnesses:

THos. H. Coon, Homes BUNN. 

